Clothes-line holder.



No. 646,4!2. Patented A r s', I900. c. E. com-z.

CLOTHES-LINE HOLDER.

Application filed Apr. 17, 1899.:

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PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES E. COLE, OF WINFIELD, KANSAS.

CLOTHES-LINE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,412, dated April3,1900. Application filed A ril 17, 1899. Serial No.713,336. (No model.)

therein to the accompanying drawings, and

the figures of reference thereon, forming a part of this specification,in which-- Figures 1 and 2 are a detached perspective View of myimproved clothes-line holder and tightener. Fig. 3 is a side view of thesame as it would appear when in use. Fig. 1 is a detail of the concavearm, and Fig. 5 is adetail of the clothes-line holder.

This invention relates to certain improvements in clothes-line holdersand tighteners,

and it consists in the novel construction of the same; and the object ofmy invention is to produce a device for holdinga clothes-line andtightening the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a clothes-line post. 2represents staples screwed or driven into said post.

3 represents the back part of said holder, having the lugs 4,which areprovided with the holes 4 5 represents the front part of the holder andtightener, having the hooked portion 6.

e 7 represents a lug on the upper end of said inside piece. Said lug 7is provided with the shoulder 8.

9 represents lugs at the lower end of the outside piece 5. Said lugsstraddle the single lug 10, which is at the lower end of the insidepiece 3. 11 represents shoulders at the joining of said lug 10 to theinside piece 3.

12 represents an arm with the concave surface 13 on the upper sideleading out on an angle from the upper end of the outside piece 5. 14represents the inner surface of said outside piece 5 made concave,forming the ridges 15.

16 represents the inner surface of the inside piece 3 made concave,forming a ridge 17.

18 represents the inner surface of the lug 7 made concave vertically. 19represents a like concave on the lower end of said inside piece 3.

20 represents a chain for holding the parts 3 and 5 together when not inuse.

21 represents a clothes-line. 22 represents the end of said line in saidholder.

23 represents a strengthening-rib on the under side of the arm 12.

This clothes-line holder and tightener is i used in the followingmanner: Strong hooks are placed in a substantial post the properdistance apart to receive the lugs 4t and the proper height for theclothes-line. Said inside piece 3 is placed on said hooks, as shown inFig. 2. The free end 22 of the line is placed in the concave portion 13and extends down between and below the lugs 9, lying in said concaveportions 18 and 19. The hook 6 of the outside piece 5 is hooked over thelugs 7, and said lugs 9 are on either side of the lug 10. To tighten theline 21, the end 22 of the rope is pulled straight down,which willstraighten the line 22 and by pressing against the edges 15 will forcethe lower end of the outside piece out, when the rope can easily betightened. When said line is tightened and the free end of the rope isreleased, the tension will pull down on the outer end of the concave arm12, and as the hook 6 and lug 7 act as a fulcrum the lower end of saidoutside piece will swing in against said rope, gripping the same. Thusthe harder the pull is on the clothes line the tighter said rope will begripped between said outer and inner gripping-jaws 5 and 3.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and useful, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

A clothes-line holder and tightener consisting of an in'ner and outergripping-jaw, said inner jaw having lugs on therear side for securingsaid inner jaw to a post, the shoulders 11 at the lower end, and the lug7 on the upper end, and concave surfaces on the inside; the outer jawhaving a concave arm extending upwardly and outwardly from said upperend thereof with a hook at its lower end adapted to catch on said upperlug of said inner jaw, and said lugs 9 adapted to catch under saidshoulders 11, and a concave surface on the inside of said outer jaw.

CHARLES E. COLE.

Witnesses:

E. H. CREDITOR, THOMAS O. I-IAss.

